She said the decision left her crying “all night long”.
“It wasn’t Elvis, I loved Elvis. And I’m sure he was as disappointed as I was because he had it all worked up and ready to go.
“I know he loved the song. Priscilla told me later that he sang that song to her when they were coming down the steps of the courthouse after they divorced. That really touched me.
“But it wasn’t his fault. I found out later that Colonel Tom had an even bigger demand for any brand new song Elvis recorded; in those cases 100 per cent of the publishing went to them. Yeah, Tom was a strict manager, he was a good manager and I don’t blame him for asking, but I don’t blame me for saying no.”
Parton credits her mother’s passion for music and her father’s work ethic in her journey to becoming the most revered country music icon.
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The influence of her parents continues to inspire her work today; she founded the Imagination Library – a project donating children a free book each month from birth to age five – as a tribute to her late father who was unable to pursue his dreams because of illiteracy.
The 74-year-old said she would tell her younger self about the success of that instantly recognisable love song and the compromises she would have to make along the way.
“It’s not going to all be fun and games, you’re going to have to pay the price and do your sacrificing, but it’s going to be worth it.”
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